Baseball coach lacked certificate, records show

Published: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 11:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 11:45 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - Manatee High School baseball coach Dwayne Strong, who is being investigated by the Bradenton Police Department for alleged financial impropriety, coached last season without proper certification and violated state law, records show.

According to state statute 1012.55, any person who is employed and renders service as a coach in a public school must possess a valid temporary or professional certificate or an athletic coaching certificate.

Florida Department of Education and Manatee County school district records show Strong held a temporary certificate in physical education that expired on June 30, 2012.

Strong did not hold any type of certificate beyond that date, state and district records show, and coached at Manatee last spring.

According to the same state law, a coach who voluntarily renders service and is not employed by a school district in Florida does not need a certificate of any type.

Strong — who could not be reached for comment — did not receive a monetary stipend to coach baseball last season, according to the district, but he was employed at Manatee High as an in-school suspension teacher for an annual salary of $24,784.20.

State records also show Strong held a coaching certificate that expired June 30, 2010.

Coaches must have a certificate if they work for the district, said Cheryl Etters, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education.

Temporary certificates such as the one Strong held in physical education are valid in Florida for three years and are nonrenewable.

If an employee attempts to obtain a five-year professional certificate, the state expects all requirements to be met during the time the temporary certificate is valid.

As part of the process to get a five-year professional certificate, a person is required by law to demonstrate a “mastery of general knowledge.”

Strong is being investigated by the school district for financial and ethical reasons, according to sources. The investigation began in early October.

Manatee High Principal Don Sauer has since been instructed by the district to freeze all baseball funds and accounts, and Strong is not allowed to represent himself as a coach of Manatee’s team, or to interact with the players.

He continues to monitor in-school suspension at Manatee High.

On Oct. 24, the Bradenton Police Department confirmed it is investigating Strong, but declined to offer details regarding the investigation.

It is the second time in eight months a person affiliated with Manatee High and its athletic department has been investigated by police and the district.

Former Manatee High parent liaison and assistant coach Rod Frazier was charged in July with seven counts of misdemeanor battery and three counts of interfering with a student’s attendance.

The Frazier case also led to charges of failure to report child abuse against former Manatee High principal Bob Gagnon and former Manatee High assistant principals Matthew Kane and Gregg Faller.

Former district investigator Debra Horne has also been charged with failure to report child abuse in the case.

Gagnon, Faller and Kane have been suspended without pay by the district and superintendent Rick Mills has presented them with a notification of termination.

The three are contesting Mills’ recommendation and have requested independent hearings.

Horne has informed the district of her intention to retire effective Nov. 2.

Strong began coaching at Manatee in 2007-08, and in a short time he led Manatee to its most successful season in decades.

In 2011, Manatee reached the state semifinals, before losing 7-6 to Lakeland. It was the farthest a Manatee team had advanced since 1963.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Manatee High School baseball coach Dwayne Strong, who is being investigated by the Bradenton Police Department for alleged financial impropriety, coached last season without proper certification and violated state law, records show.</p><p>According to state statute 1012.55, any person who is employed and renders service as a coach in a public school must possess a valid temporary or professional certificate or an athletic coaching certificate.</p><p>Florida Department of Education and Manatee County school district records show Strong held a temporary certificate in physical education that expired on June 30, 2012.</p><p>Strong did not hold any type of certificate beyond that date, state and district records show, and coached at Manatee last spring.</p><p>According to the same state law, a coach who voluntarily renders service and is not employed by a school district in Florida does not need a certificate of any type.</p><p>Strong — who could not be reached for comment — did not receive a monetary stipend to coach baseball last season, according to the district, but he was employed at Manatee High as an in-school suspension teacher for an annual salary of $24,784.20.</p><p>State records also show Strong held a coaching certificate that expired June 30, 2010.</p><p>Coaches must have a certificate if they work for the district, said Cheryl Etters, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education.</p><p>Temporary certificates such as the one Strong held in physical education are valid in Florida for three years and are nonrenewable.</p><p>If an employee attempts to obtain a five-year professional certificate, the state expects all requirements to be met during the time the temporary certificate is valid.</p><p>As part of the process to get a five-year professional certificate, a person is required by law to demonstrate a “mastery of general knowledge.”</p><p>Strong is being investigated by the school district for financial and ethical reasons, according to sources. The investigation began in early October.</p><p>Manatee High Principal Don Sauer has since been instructed by the district to freeze all baseball funds and accounts, and Strong is not allowed to represent himself as a coach of Manatee's team, or to interact with the players.</p><p>He continues to monitor in-school suspension at Manatee High.</p><p>On Oct. 24, the Bradenton Police Department confirmed it is investigating Strong, but declined to offer details regarding the investigation.</p><p>It is the second time in eight months a person affiliated with Manatee High and its athletic department has been investigated by police and the district.</p><p>Former Manatee High parent liaison and assistant coach Rod Frazier was charged in July with seven counts of misdemeanor battery and three counts of interfering with a student's attendance.</p><p>The Frazier case also led to charges of failure to report child abuse against former Manatee High principal Bob Gagnon and former Manatee High assistant principals Matthew Kane and Gregg Faller.</p><p>Former district investigator Debra Horne has also been charged with failure to report child abuse in the case.</p><p>Gagnon, Faller and Kane have been suspended without pay by the district and superintendent Rick Mills has presented them with a notification of termination. </p><p>The three are contesting Mills' recommendation and have requested independent hearings.</p><p>Horne has informed the district of her intention to retire effective Nov. 2. </p><p>Strong began coaching at Manatee in 2007-08, and in a short time he led Manatee to its most successful season in decades.</p><p>In 2011, Manatee reached the state semifinals, before losing 7-6 to Lakeland. It was the farthest a Manatee team had advanced since 1963.</p><p>Manatee finished last season with a 7-16 record.</p>